The Increasing Social Role of Mass Sports in Azerbaijan and the Inclusive Possibilities of Adaptive Sports
Vusal Abbasov 
Abstract. Mass sports act as a social institution that ensures the involvement of every citizen in sports activities, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the strengthening of social unity. Mass sports create significant changes in the social structures of society. Sports events and competitions lead to the formation of social solidarity, the strengthening of intergenerational relations and the increase in the social activity of young people. Scientific literature on the subject, state programs, normative documents on sports policy, strategies adopted in connection with the development of sports in Azerbaijan and official information were analyzed. Through this method, the social essence of mass sports, its importance in terms of health, socialization, effective organization of youth leisure time and increasing social activity were determined. Mass sports make a significant contribution to increasing the social activity of citizens, directing young people to a healthy lifestyle, strengthening social solidarity and the formation of social capital. Adaptive sports act as an effective means of ensuring the rehabilitation of people with physical disabilities, restoration of self-confidence and integration into the social environment. The development of adaptive sports in Azerbaijan began in the 1990s and entered a systematic stage in the 2000s.
Keywords: mass sports, adaptive sports, physical health, social activity, leisure time